Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Pius II

It is proven, that the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo existed since Carolingian times. Legends (of course) know, that it was Charlemagne himself, who founded the abbey when he had left Rome, following the Via Francigana northward. The earliest document relating to the abbey is a land grant of Charlemagne´s son Louis the Pious from 813. One year after the 1117 Verona earthquake, that destroyed so many buildings in Northern Italy, the erection of the church of today started. At that time the a powerful abbey was one of the largest landowners in the area. The decline started in 1212, when, after a decade of hostility, an agreement stated that the abbey had to hand over a quarter of its territories to Siena, including Montalcino. With the rise of the Dominican and the Franciscan Order, the Benedictines lost more influence. In 1462 Pope Pius II surpressed the abbey (just like Abbadia Ardenga, see previous uploads), annexed what ever was left - and handed it over to the Bishop of of Montalcino-Pienza, who was Pius' nephew. The decline had already started, when the facade was done around 1250. It was never completed, as the abbey obviously run out of funds. The work for a double portal were pretty advanced already, when the work came to an halt. The missing half of this now forms the portal of Santa Maria Assunta in San Quirico d’Orcia (15kms northeast).

It is proven, that the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo existed since Carolingian times. Legends (of course) know, that it was Charlemagne himself, who founded the abbey when he had left Rome, following the Via Francigana northward. The earliest document relating to the abbey is a land grant of Charlemagne´s son Louis the Pious from 813. One year after the 1117 Verona earthquake, that destroyed so many buildings in Northern Italy, the erection of the church of today started. At that time the a powerful abbey was one of the largest landowners in the area. The decline started in 1212, when, after a decade of hostility, an agreement stated that the abbey had to hand over a quarter of its territories to Siena, including Montalcino. With the rise of the Dominican and the Franciscan Order, the Benedictines lost more influence. In 1462 Pope Pius II surpressed the abbey (just like Abbadia Ardenga, see previous uploads), annexed what ever was left - and handed it over to the Bishop of of Montalcino-Pienza, who was Pius' nephew. Seen from here the church looks rather like a Romanesque Burgundian church. There is indeed a strong influence from France here.

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. The place seemed to be "private", so I knocked at some doors. Nobody was "at home". But then I found the door of the church open!! I had learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, and that the ancient crypt once run along the entire length of the church. It is now smaller, but still impressive. There are traces of floral decorations under the vaults.

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. The place seemed to be "private", so I knocked at some doors. Nobody was "at home". But then I found the door of the church open!! I had learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, but only the central nave still existed. If this is the nave, than the church must once have been have been a pretty wide basilica. In the right corner is a stair leading down to the crypt.

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. I could seen the church and a few of the convents building from the dirt road, and learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, but only the central nave still existed. I knocked at some doors, but nobody was "at home", when I approached the church.